SOLON B. COUSINS

Solon Cousins was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1925. He received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Richmond in 1947 and earned his master’s degree in the same field in 1951 from the University of Chicago. Cousins holds honorary doctorates from the University of Richmond and Springfield College.

Cousins joined the staff of the Chicago Y in 1954, where he served as director of personnel and planning. He was responsible for the development and administration of the personnel transition program, work standards program, long-range planning, world service, and United Way fundraising.

In 1966 he was appointed the executive director of the Boston YMCA, where he led a capital campaign that raised $2.5 million to construct one new facility, add to four existing branches, and purchase a camp. He started a pilot program with the U.S. Department of Labor providing job training for the economically disadvantaged, with the Y agreeing to employ graduates full-time. He also created a three-year plan, “Tomorrow,” which addressed personnel, program, and facility development. The MRC service system grew out of the “hub city” concept he initiated. His involvement in key volunteer roles with APD led to the original CDP training program.

In 1970 Cousins became the National Board’s associate executive director and first executive of the Urban Group, an association of the 1 7 largest urban YMCAs in North America. Under his guidance the first national health insurance program was developed and the “Standards of Excellence for Urban Metro YMCAs” were accepted.

In 1974 he joined the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago as executive director, guiding their fundraising campaigns through 1979. Annual contributions increased more than $22 million to $60 million. Cousins introduced flexible allocations to include new organizations and innovative programming. The United Way merged with the Community Planning Council during his tenure.

Cousins returned to the YMCA in 1980 as the national executive director of the YMCA of the USA and oversaw a dramatic rebirth of the movement. He held this position until his retirement in 1990. He reorganized and decentralized the entire national system with a new constitution in 1984, lowered dues paid to support the National Board, moved the national office to Chicago, balanced the budget, introduced YMCA childcare programs, created the Y-Mutual Insurance Company, led the fight against the challenge to the YMCA’s tax-exempt status, and renewed the YMCA movement’s confidence in its national leadership. He also launched Discovery magazine and created a department to serve small and mid-size associations.

Cousins 1992 book, The Incredible YIMCABIRD and Other Stories, is a tribute to Y professionals. He is a past trustee of Springfield College, George Williams College, and the YMCA Retirement Fund, and today serves as an active volunteer in many community and national organizations.